François-Joseph Heim

1787 – 1865

French historical painter. He began to draw when eight years old, and gained the first prize for drawing in Strasbourg before he was eleven. In 1803 he entered the studio of Vincent at Paris. In 1807 he obtained the first prize at the Academy with a picture of Theseus and the Minotaur, and a travelling scholarship with which he went to Rome. In 1812 he received a gold medal of the Academy for his painting The Return of Jacob (Musée de Bordeaux). In 1824 he received the Legion of Honour. He became full member of the Academy in 1829, and professor in 1831. He was appointed painter to the Institute of France, and exhibited over sixty portraits of members, the drawings for which are now in the Louvre. In addition to his history paintings, he decorated the Gallery Charles X in the Louvre, and the Conference Room of the Chamber of Deputies in Paris.

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